MANILA — The city government of Makati has paid a total of P7,090,613.05 to five cinemas in the city for free movie tickets for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) of the city who availed themselves of the said privilege from January to March this year.

In a report to Mayor Abby Binay, Accounting Department officer-in-charge William Dayrit said for the first quarter of 2017, the city paid P06,604,171.27 for movie tickets of senior citizens and P486,441.78 for PWD. The said amounts represent the 25-percent share of the city government in the cost of movie tickets used under its free movies program being implemented in partnership with cinema owners in the city.

The lady mayor acknowledged the support of the city's partners, which include ALI Commercial Center, Inc. for Glorietta and Greenbelt cinemas, Rockwell Land Corporation for Power Plant cinemas, Century City Development Corporation for Century City Mall cinemas, Willimson, Inc. for Waltermart cinemas, and Adebe Realty Company, Inc. for Cash and Carry cinemas.

"The city government is very grateful to our program partners for sharing our commitment to raising the quality of life of elderly and PWD Makatizens in every way possible. We thank you for your consistent support to this program which has given priceless joy to our beneficiaries for several years now," Binay said in a statement.

For the period January to March this year, Makati paid ALI Commercial Center P2,973,700.68 for senior citizens and P215,362.62 for PWD; Rockwell Land Corporation, P2,026,421.25 for senior citizens and P157,353.25 for PWD; and Century City Development Corporation, P438,558.00 for senior citizens, P29,575.87 for PWD.

Other payments made were to Willimson, Inc. which received P824,004.35 for senior citizens and P64,926.80 for PWD; and Adebe Realty Company, Inc., P341,486.99 for senior citizens and P19,223.24 for PWD.

The program entitles some 77,685 senior citizens and 8,110 registered PWDs of Makati to free admission in any of the previously mentioned cinemas.

The free movies benefit for the elderly started in 1997 with the passage of City Ordinance No. 97-085 appropriating P500,000 as the 25-percent share of the city in cinema admission costs for senior citizens. The program was institutionalized almost three years later through City Ordinance No. 2001-035 granting the inclusion of appropriations in the annual City Executive Budget for its continuous implementation in succeeding years.

In 2006, the said perk was also granted to registered PWDs of Makati through the enactment of City Ordinance No. 2006-066.

All they have to do is present their senior citizens ID card or PWD ID card, together with their city-government issued movie tickets booklet, at the ticket booths whenever they go to any of the said cinemas.

In 2016, cinema partners were paid a total amount of P23.2 million, as follows: P21,081,297.20 for senior citizens and P2,203,721.54 for PWD.

This year, the city government has allocated P35 million for the movie tickets of senior citizens and P4 million for PWDs.

Aside from the free movies program, senior and PWD Makatizens also enjoy other benefits from the city. Makati senioritas and senioritos receive birthday and golden wedding anniversary cakes, and bags of groceries every December.

Under the BLU Card program, senior citizens are also entitled to cash gifts given in two equal instalments every June and December. Those who are 60-69 years old receive P3,000; 70-79 years old, P4,000; and 80 years old and above, P5,000.

To date, 38 Makati centenarians have been awarded with P100,000 cash gift, also under the BLU Card Program.

On the other hand, PWDs in Makati are also granted the Access Display Card, a special car sticker for private vehicles they use that entitles them to being given priority for a parking space anywhere within Makati, as mandated by City Ordinance No. 2006-036.

They also have the PWD transport ID card plus, which entitles them to fare discounts on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), provincial buses and local transport groups.

Free mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walker and crutches are also given to the less fortunate PWD, while the deaf and mute are being assisted by the city Public Employment Services Office through its Job Placement Program. (PNA)